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One Day at the Beach is Better Than No Days at the Beach

By Chris Ann Cleland

Real Estate Agent with Long and Foster Real Estate VA License # 0225089470

September 17, 2012 08:40 AM

One Day at the Beach is Better Than No Days at the Beach

If you're a full-time real estate agent like me, you can appreciate the idea of having difficulty with time away from the business. When you add in taking care of an aging parent whose health is beginning to fail, free time becomes practically non-existent.

My best friend Patti is in town from New Mexico. She and I decided to take a much needed day trip to the shore of Ocean City, MD. I can't tell you how good it was to do something totally different and just for me.

They say a picture is word a thousand words, so I'll shut up and leave you with some shots from yesterday. Just looking at them relaxes me all over.

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Jim Patton

Aspire Home Real Estate 209-404-0816 - Modesto, CA

Realtor - Stanislaus ,Merced, San Joaquin Counties

Great photos Chris Ann. I feel the same way, I love to head over to the coast for a day away now and then too. I am about 2 hours away from Monterey and even closer to San Francisco and try to get over to one of those spots every now and then.

Sep 17, 2012 10:39 AM

Dick Greenberg

New Paradigm Partners LLC - Fort Collins, CO

Northern Colorado Residential Real Estate

Hi Chris Ann - I'm glad you were able to take some time off. Even a bit of that can last a long time if it has to, and it has to way too often in this business.

Sep 17, 2012 11:27 AM

Kathy Sheehan

Bay Equity, LLC 770-634-4021 - Atlanta, GA

Senior Loan Officer

Chris Ann, those are lovely photographs. Now I want to go back to the beach.

Sep 17, 2012 11:37 AM

Andrea Bedard

Thompson Company, REALTORS® 240.593.2860 - Silver Spring, MD

Fluent in Real Estate & German, M.A. ABR ASP CIPS

Hi Chris Ann, one day at the beach is most definitely better than none... and getting to enjoy it with your best friend just makes it perfect. My best friend from Germany is flying in in a couple weeks, perhaps we should take a little day trip, too.

Sep 17, 2012 12:21 PM

Rob D. Shepherd

RETIRED - Florence, OR

RETIRED

WE need to get whatever peices of time we can to recharge and regroup!

Sep 17, 2012 12:29 PM

Kathy Streib

Cypress, TX

Home Stager/Redesign

Chris Ann...the beach is so refreshing...maybe that's what we need to unclog our minds and get away from our everyday hassles and responsibilities.

Sep 17, 2012 02:22 PM

Carla Muss-Jacobs, RETIRED

RETIRED / State License is Inactive - Portland, OR

Loving photos and I enjoyed the simplicity of the gull prints in the sand. The sunset is lovely. Glad you shared with us!

Sep 17, 2012 03:05 PM

Kathryn Maguire

GreatNorfolkHomes.com (757) 560-0881 - Chesapeake, VA

Serving Chesapeake, Norfolk, VA Beach

Oh yes, that was a day well spent. Great way to charge your batteries!

Sep 17, 2012 09:12 PM

Sheila Anderson

Referral Group Incorporated - East Brunswick, NJ

The Real Estate Whisperer Who Listens 732-715-1133

Good morning Chris Ann. I am glad you grabbed some time for yourself. The pictures are beautiful and relax me too.

Sep 17, 2012 10:16 PM

Ginny Gorman

RI Real Estate Services ~ 401-529-7849~ RI Waterfront Real Estate - North Kingstown, RI

Homes for Sale in Southern RI and beyond

Chris Ann, one of our AR friends is coming out to visit me next month & i plan some down time to show the sights & sounds of RI..it's the only time i do break! good for you

Sep 17, 2012 10:38 PM

Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker

Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA

Put 40 years of experience to work for you

I like your bird prints in the sand.

There is a sign on Highway 50 in West Sacramento that says the distance between the city of West Sacramento and Ocean City, MD is 3037 miles. There is another sign in Ocean City, MD with the distance to Sacramento as 3073 miles. Somebody has dyslexia. Which? My bets are on California.

Sep 18, 2012 01:49 AM

Curtis Van Carter

Better Homes & Gardens Wine Country Group - Yountville, CA

Your Napa Valley Broker Extraordinaire

Chris Ann

For many years, Ocean City was one of my favorite jaunts. Used to work in Georgetown and would often go ther just for a day, leaving at 2 AM and getting to the beach around 5 AM just to drive back and go to work that evening. Those were the days.

Hope you and your friend had a great time and she didn't freak out at the site of the ocean. There is the Rio Grande but not the same thing. :-)) cheers cvc

Sep 18, 2012 03:17 AM

Scott Godzyk

Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH

One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

Good Evening Chris Ann, i have to say any day at the beach is a good day. I got to head to my beach this morning, I had a couple of appointments there so i timed them perfect for lunch, there was no one there, it sure was nice if only for an hour. I hope you had a great time in Ocean City.. Have a great evening.

Sep 18, 2012 10:40 AM

Donna Foerster

HomeSmart Realty Group - Parker, CO

Metro Denver Real Estate Assistant

Chris Ann~ That's one thing I miss about living in NJ, the ability to go to the beach, breathe in the smells, walk barefoot in the sand, feel the water spalshing my legs. Can't really find that in CO.

Sep 18, 2012 01:23 PM

Carol-Ann Palmieri

RE/MAX Executive Realty, Al and Cal Realty Group - Franklin, MA

"Cal" the Real Estate Gal

Hi Chris Ann. Time to relax and recharge is not only good for us our business, but for the ones we are looking after as well. I'm glad you got a chance to relax. Your photos are beautiful.

Sep 19, 2012 02:56 AM

Chris Ann Cleland

Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA

Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

John: If you end up out this way, give me a shout.

Nancy: There is something so great about a complete change of scenery.

Cindy: We all need some time to unwind.

Martha: I almost didn't recognize the place. It's been nearly 20 years since I was there. There are some great new shops out there.

Sep 19, 2012 05:43 AM

Chris Ann Cleland

Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA

Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Jim: Sometimes a day trip is just enough to keep you going when things are too hectic to take a full blown vacation.

Dick: I was jealous reading about your days in San Francisco. I loved the trip I took out there. Would love to go back one day.

Kathy: I am surprised how well they turned out. With a good digital camera, it's hard to screw up a photograph.

Andrea: Definitely! We certainly had a blast.

Sep 19, 2012 05:45 AM

Chris Ann Cleland

Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA

Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Rob: Amen to that.

Kathy: Over the summer I would go out and watch my husband fly his RC planes in a remote field. There were these really cheap ones that we both had called Night Vapors that you could fly at dusk and dark. We'd go out with enough daylight for him to fly the big planes, then bust out our lawn chairs and sodas and fly the Night Vapors at dusk...with nothing but the sound of the neighboring farm animals and crickets around us.

Carla: Thanks. Wasn't sure how either of those would turn out, but was pleased with both.

Kathryn: And the driving wasn't bad either. My best friend has the same task in music as me. We'd crank up the tunes and sing with the radio, just like when we were teenagers.

Sep 19, 2012 05:48 AM

Chris Ann Cleland

Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA

Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Sheila: You definitely could use some R&R with the stress of remodeling the new home and selling the old one.

Ginny: They'll have a wonderful tour guide in you. Have a blast!

Elizabeth: That's funny. The online travel math I just plugged in with those two cities gave me a driving distance of 2,859 miles...so it looks like they are both wrong, but Sacramento's sign is closer.

Curtis: It's probably been just as long since I've been to Georgetown and that's a lot closer than O.C. I love Gerogetown best at Christmas. when the lights are up on the Key Bridge.

Sep 19, 2012 05:54 AM

Chris Ann Cleland

Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA

Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Scott: Glad you got some quality beach time too.

Donna: I forgot how awful it feels when your street clothes get wet with salt water. Thankfully, we had the foresight to bring a change of clothes.

Carol Ann: Thanks. I had a fun time and am glad to have the photographic reminder.

Sep 19, 2012 05:56 AM